At least three people will have their lives improved or saved thanks to a caring Filby woman who has died suddenly.

Jean Green's caring nature saw her collect gift-filled shoe boxes for dozens of children living in poverty. Donating her organs means lives can will be improved or saved following her sudden death. Photo: Supplied by Ameesha Williams

Jean Green was known for her generous nature famously filling hundreds of shoeboxes every year to help children living difficult lives who would otherwise receive nothing at Christmas.

Her family said this week that knowing other lives would be helped was a great comfort to them.

And her daughter Ameesha Williams is urging everyone to sign up to the organ donor register and importantly to let family know their wishes.

Although it was a difficult conversation Mrs Williams said some 40pc of potential donations were blocked even though the deceased had signed up themselves because the families were unsure when the time came.

“We are on a bit of a mission now,” she said.

“Even if it just gets people talking about it. I have a couple of friends who have now signed up and they may know people who will join too. You never know when something could happen. You always think it is going to be someone else’s family.

“Just giving someone else that chance has brought us a lot of comfort and to know that we were able to carry out her wishes.”

It is hoped Mrs Green’s liver and kidneys will save lives.

Mrs Green died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after doctors said there was no hope of recovery.

The 68-year-old had collapsed suddenly while at Filby Gardening Club having spent the day in her garden and at garden centres, popping to her daughter’s to drop off some plants.

She never gained consciousness after what turned out to be an aneurism, a bleed in the brain.

“We knew what she wanted, having first signed up in 1990,” Mrs Williams said. “She was always so giving to others and said ‘they will be no good to me after I die.’

“She had talked to us about it and we are all organ donors too.

“We knew what her wishes were going to be, we just knew that was the right thing to do.”

She leaves her husband Ray, two daughters Ameesha and Dannella and six grandchildren.